What To Do With Your Wedding Flowers After The Wedding | Pressed Flower Preservation

Wedding flowers are such an meaningful part of your day, and it’s completely natural to want to hold onto them long after the celebrations are over. Many of the lovely couples I work with tell me how important it is for them to preserve their flowers in a way that allows them to relive those memories for years to come. One of the questions I get asked most often is what options are available - and over the next few weeks, I’ll be exploring some of the most stunning and creative and meaningful ways you can give your wedding flowers a second life.

Pressed flower preservation is one of the most beautiful and sentimental ways to transform your wedding bouquet into a lasting keepsake. It’s timeless, elegant, and transforms your blooms into artwork you can treasure forever. To give you the best insight into how this process works, I’m so excited to be joined by the incredibly talented Patti of Pressed Meadow, whose stunning work captures wedding flowers in the most delicate and meaningful way. As a specialist in pressed flower preservation, Patti has helped countless couples turn their wedding flowers into meaningful artwork they can treasure forever.

So, grab your favourite drink, get cosy, and let’s dive into everything you need to know about pressed flower preservation...

What exactly is pressed flower preservation?

Pressed flower preservation is the process of drying and flattening your fresh wedding flowers so they can be transformed into lasting artwork.

Each bloom is pressed by hand - some even petal by petal - between many layers of paper inside traditional wooden flower presses. Over several weeks, moisture is gently drawn out. Once dried, certain flowers are delicately reconstructed from their petals where needed, and I begin creating your unique layout and design.

The finished piece is a framed artwork, with your wedding blooms displayed in a light, airy, contemporary style. It becomes something you can hang in your home and enjoy every day - a real part of your wedding preserved.

Which wedding flowers press best?

Bouquets that look particularly beautiful in a frame usually include a mix of small to medium blooms, with varied colours and textures. The combination of movement, contrast and shape translates wonderfully once pressed - whether from delicate filler flowers or statement blooms.

Greenery is not essential - many modern bouquets are mostly flowers, and they can look just as striking when preserved.

Flowers that tend to press well include hydrangeas, larkspur, anemones, delphiniums, baby’s breath, cosmos, astrantia, astilbe, phlox, achillea, sweet peas (especially brighter or deeper shades), thistles, Queen Anne’s lace, hellebores, lisianthus, carnations, veronicas and a range of foliage such as eucalyptus. Roses, dahlias and peonies are usually pressed petal by petal and then reconstructed, keeping their soft, romantic character within the final design.

Every bouquet is unique, so I always ask clients about their flowers before booking to ensure suitability for pressing and framing, and I’m very happy to offer guidance along the way.

When do flowers need to be sent after the wedding?

Ideally, your flowers should reach me the day or two after your wedding. The fresher they are, the better they press. If you need to wait briefly, keep them in water, somewhere cool, and away from direct sunlight.

For the post, I recommend using a next-day delivery service, and ideally, they should be sent no later than 3 days after the wedding. I receive bouquets from all over the UK, and to make the process simple, I provide clients with a clear posting guide, with step-by-step instructions for safely packing and sending their flowers.

Getting them to me quickly helps capture them at their very best.

How long does pressed flower preservation take?

Pressed flower preservation is a slow craft, and this unhurried pace is what makes each piece so special. Many blooms, such as roses and peonies, are pressed petal by petal, with delicate reconstruction often needed to recreate their original shape. Each flower rests snugly in the presses for several weeks to dry completely, capturing its natural beauty.

From the moment your bouquet arrives to the delivery of your finished artwork, it usually takes around 5–6 months, though it can take a little longer during the busy wedding season, when my studio is full of bouquets and presses. Every piece is lovingly handmade, preserving not only the blooms but also the memories they carry - creating a keepsake to treasure for years.

What can the pressed wedding flowers be turned into?

At Pressed Meadow, your flowers are preserved as framed artwork and delicate mini herbariums - timeless pieces designed to hold the sentiment of your day.

You can select from three frame sizes and two distinct design styles, each celebrating your bouquet in its own way. Every frame is unique, created from your blooms and thoughtfully arranged by hand.

The Modern Botanical Collage is light, airy and contemporary. Each flower is arranged individually to highlight colour, texture and shape in a modern, meadow-inspired composition - perfect for a clean, editorial look.

The Bouquet Style is fuller and more romantic. It softly reimagines the character of your original bouquet - not a replica, but an interpretation that brings its natural abundance back to life.

Some couples choose to arrange their pressed flowers around their wedding invitation or printed vows, weaving even more meaning into the design. 

Will the colours stay the same?

Pressed flowers are real blooms, and part of their beauty lies in their organic nature. As they dry, their colours naturally shift and evolve - this is simply part of working with real flowers.

Fresher blooms tend to retain more of their original colour. Brighter and darker shades often deepen, while softer palettes - whites, blush, nudes, pastels, toffee and muted tones - usually dry into warm, vintage-inspired hues like creams, yellows, beiges and gentle browns. Over time, they may continue to evolve, taking on a softly aged, heirloom quality.

These gentle changes reflect the passage of time, a quiet reminder that you weren’t married just yesterday.

How long will pressed flowers last?

When properly cared for, pressed flowers can be enjoyed for many years. They are delicate, natural keepsakes, and where they are displayed affects how well they age.

Frames should be kept away from direct sunlight, strong heat, humidity and damp conditions. All Pressed Meadow frames feature UV-protective glass for added protection, though thoughtful placement in your home helps your artwork age beautifully.

As real blooms, they will gently shift in tone over time, developing a soft, vintage character.

What happens if some flowers don’t press well?

Not every bloom presses in the same way - some behave beautifully, while others can be more unpredictable. That’s the nature of real flowers.

To give your artwork the best outcome, I usually press extra flowers alongside your bouquet, which is why I ask for additional stems where possible. I also check in advance which flowers will be included, to ensure suitability and gently manage expectations.

If a bloom doesn’t press perfectly, I thoughtfully select the strongest elements to create a finished piece that still feels true to your bouquet. In the end, it’s the combination of colours, textures and shapes that holds the memory so beautifully.

How much does pressed flower preservation cost?

Pressed flower preservation is a detailed, hands-on craft. Each bouquet is carefully dismantled, with many blooms pressed petal by petal. They are monitored for weeks as they dry, then delicately reconstructed, individually arranged, glued and professionally framed. The process takes months from start to finish.

Preservation starts from £300, with pricing depending on frame size. Every piece is bespoke, made from your own wedding flowers and designed to showcase their natural beauty.

Completed artwork will be sent via named next-day delivery, tracked and signed for, ensuring your frame arrives safely and securely.

Why should couples consider preserving their wedding flowers?

For many couples, flowers are one of the most important parts of planning their wedding day. They transform spaces, create a romantic atmosphere, and are carefully chosen to reflect your style, colour palette, and the emotions of the day. Your bouquet appears in your photographs, is held throughout the ceremony, and carries deep sentimental meaning.

Pressed wedding bouquet preservation lets you hold onto a part of that day in a unique way. Rather than being stored away or discarded, your flowers become a cherished keepsake you can enjoy at home for years.

It’s a beautiful, sentimental way to preserve something fleeting. 

How can couples get in touch with you?

I would love to hear from any couple who loves flowers and is thinking about preserving their special blooms! Couples can get in touch through my website, where they’ll find full details about pressed wedding bouquet preservation, pricing, and how to book.

I truly enjoy hearing about the flowers you’ve chosen, your colour palette, and the story behind your bouquet. I’m happy to answer any questions and make the process as simple and enjoyable as possible. Booking in advance is recommended to secure your place, especially during the busy wedding season, but every enquiry receives my full attention and care.

I hope you’ve loved learning more about pressed flower preservation and feel inspired by the beautiful ways Patti transforms wedding flowers into lasting keepsakes. If you’re considering preserving your own bouquet, I highly recommend taking a look at Patti’s incredible work over at Pressed Meadow, where you can explore her portfolio and find out more about her process.

This is just the first post in my What To Do With Wedding Flowers After The Wedding series, where I’ll be chatting with other wonderful specialists about different preservation and repurposing options - including some lovely ways to donate your flowers after the big day.

If you’d like to stay updated when the next posts go live (and see plenty of real wedding flowers along the way), you can follow me over on Instagram. I’d absolutely love to have you there! :)

xx Zuzanna